Songbird: a little about me

[Carmie]

3 minutes ago, Songbird said:

Thanks for the encouragement, Carmie!  I was nervous about making my own liquid, but it has turned out to be easier than I thought it would be.  I guess it's fear of the unfamiliar.

 

Hi again Songbird, 

 

Yes, everything in tapering n withdrawals seems to be fear based because of the nasty neuro-emotions and because of the pain we’ve gone through. Everything is scary. 

 

I’m glad the liquid titrating is going well. I’ve never had a problem with it. It’s quite easy to do once you figure out the math. 

 

My problem at the moment is that I went to compounded capsules but I found out afterwards they’re not too accurate at times so I want to go back to the original tablet n water titrate them. It’s been over two n a half months since I changed to capsules n I haven’t stabilised yet. When I do I’ll go back to the tablet but then I’ll  probably take another three months to stabilise. Who knows? 

 

 That’s six months or more going backwards but I think it’s the best thing to do after brassmonkey mentioned it’s best to use the original tablets. 

 

 

Again, I want to say I’m really, really happy that you’re liquid tapering is going well. Keep up the good work!

 

Sending hugs🤗💚

 

[Carmie]

On 11/16/2018 at 7:34 PM, Songbird said:

Thanks for the encouragement, Carmie!  I was nervous about making my own liquid, but it has turned out to be easier than I thought it would be.  I guess it's fear of the unfamiliar.

 

Hi Songbird, 

 

How are you doing? I’m guessing the water titration has become second nature to you now. 

 

Are you still doing okay since you changed over to liquid?

 

Sending sunshine your way☀️

[Songbird]

Thanks for checking on me, Carmie!  I've been doing okay since the switch to liquid and twice-daily dosing.  I make up a bottle of liquid every couple of weeks.  I've just started a new drop, but I'm trying the BrassMonkey slide method, so a tiny amount each week and then a hold.  Will be interesting to see how that goes.

[Carmie]

On 11/27/2018 at 4:34 PM, Songbird said:

Thanks for checking on me, Carmie!  I've been doing okay since the switch to liquid and twice-daily dosing.  I make up a bottle of liquid every couple of weeks.  I've just started a new drop, but I'm trying the BrassMonkey slide method, so a tiny amount each week and then a hold.  Will be interesting to see how that goes.

 

Hi Songbird, 

 

So glad to see you’re doing well with the changes you made. Let me know how you continue to go with the brassmonkey slide. I’m going to do that eventually too, but I’ll probably tweak it a little here n there occasionally n see how I go. 

 

Sending hugs🤗

[Carmie]

Hi Songbird, 

 

How are you chirping this week? Tweet tweet!

 

Sending sunshine your way☀️☀️☀️

[Songbird]

Hi Carmie, I'm doing okay.  A bit of mild insomnia and mild irritability, a few stabbing pains and achy joints.  All minor stuff.  Tweet, tweet, thanks for the sunshine!

[Carmie]

7 hours ago, Songbird said:

Hi Carmie, I'm doing okay.  A bit of mild insomnia and mild irritability, a few stabbing pains and achy joints.  All minor stuff.  Tweet, tweet, thanks for the sunshine!

 

Hi Songbird, 

 

I’m sooo glad you’re doing okay overall. You are doing such AMAZING work on this site n I’m in awe of all the amazing advice you give. 

 

Sending  lots more sunshine your way☀️☀️☀️ 

Edited December 7, 2018 by Carmie
Grammatical error

[Carmie]

Hey there Songbird, 

 

Just checking in again to see how you’re chirping along. 

 

Sending hugs🤗

[Carmie]

Hey there, 

 

Just popping in again to see how you’re doing💚

[Songbird]

Thanks for checking up on me, Carmie, you're very kind.  Unfortunately I don't have a very positive update.

 

I'm holding my taper because I've developed a second frozen shoulder.  The first one happened three years ago and has been quite an ordeal - it was all tied up with my crash and then going onto citalopram - and it's been gradually improving and currently about 90-95% recovered.  Then BOOM here we go again, it's enough to make you wanna cry (and actually cry, I must admit).  Just like three years ago, I'm now in pain every day, can't get comfortable lying in bed, find it difficult to put on and take off clothes, and so on and so on.  As well as the shoulder aching all day and night, if I move in slightly the wrong way, there is sudden excruciating pain for around 30 seconds.  I've made a specialist appointment for next week, so will see what she says.  I'm not hugely optimistic - the treatments I tried last time were not very successful, and I'm really not keen on the idea of surgery.  So I'm holding my dose at 3.8mg while I try to sort out the shoulder problem.

[Carmie]

That’s awful Songbird, 

 

I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. A friend of mine ended up with a frozen shoulder from radiation treatment for breast cancer. It must be so hard for you to do anything, putting on clothes would be quite an ordeal. I’d be crying too, actually I was bawling my eyes out the other night as I felt overwhelmed by everything. 

 

How long did it take to heal last time? Keep me updated as to how you go with the specialist. I don’t know if this would help, or not, but have you ever tried Bowen Therapy?

 

I hope it doesn’t take you too long to recover. It must be hard even writing or typing if that’s the side your frozen shoulder is on. Sending hugs🤗🤗🤗

 

[Songbird]

2 hours ago, Carmie said:

How long did it take to heal last time? Keep me updated as to how you go with the specialist. I don’t know if this would help, or not, but have you ever tried Bowen Therapy?

 

It's been a three year journey so far with the first one.  I found out about Bowen therapy part-way through and it helped a lot to alleviate the pain.  It didn't magically cure the restricted movement problem, but probably helped the thawing process by keeping the muscles around the joint happy.  I'm seeing my Bowen therapist in a couple of days time (we've had a break because of Christmas and New Year) so it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Thanks for the hugs!

[Gracee]

Hi Songbird, It it great to see you here.   I was a member of PP when you were active there and I remember following your posts.   I am a newby here and beginning the withdrawal process all over again.  I am delighted to see you doing so well and wish you the best. 

[Carmie]

I’m glad to hear that the Bowen therapy helps a bit with the pain Songbird,

 

 I’ve got a friend that’s a Bowen therapist, he taught Bowen therapy around the world. Hope it continues to help with the pain. It’s a shame it doesn’t help too much with the movement side of things. I’m sorry it takes so long to heal. Wish you all the best in your recovery 💚.

 

 

[grandmaD]

On 1/11/2019 at 7:40 PM, Songbird said:

Thanks for checking up on me, Carmie, you're very kind.  Unfortunately I don't have a very positive update.

 

I'm holding my taper because I've developed a second frozen shoulder.  The first one happened three years ago and has been quite an ordeal - it was all tied up with my crash and then going onto citalopram - and it's been gradually improving and currently about 90-95% recovered.  Then BOOM here we go again, it's enough to make you wanna cry (and actually cry, I must admit).  Just like three years ago, I'm now in pain every day, can't get comfortable lying in bed, find it difficult to put on and take off clothes, and so on and so on.  As well as the shoulder aching all day and night, if I move in slightly the wrong way, there is sudden excruciating pain for around 30 seconds.  I've made a specialist appointment for next week, so will see what she says.  I'm not hugely optimistic - the treatments I tried last time were not very successful, and I'm really not keen on the idea of surgery.  So I'm holding my dose at 3.8mg while I try to sort out the shoulder problem.

Sorry to hear about having to hold and your shoulder.  Are you certain it is not w/d?  I have had shoulder pain come and go on the left so that I couldn't dress or raise my shoulder to wash my hair and then after months it would go and the right one would play up!  At present I have both that are aching, but not severe, but still difficult to wash my back and lying on the left one painful.

 

I had excruciating pain in my shoulder one day so that I could not move my arm for the entire day.  I thought it was dislocated or broken.  I thought I would have this for months like other times, but next day it WAS GONE!

 

It will be interesting to see if holding your dose improves the shoulder!

[grandmaD]

On 1/12/2019 at 11:55 AM, Songbird said:

 

It's been a three year journey so far with the first one.  I found out about Bowen therapy part-way through and it helped a lot to alleviate the pain.  It didn't magically cure the restricted movement problem, but probably helped the thawing process by keeping the muscles around the joint happy.  I'm seeing my Bowen therapist in a couple of days time (we've had a break because of Christmas and New Year) so it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Thanks for the hugs!

Oh dear, 3 years!  Have you tried massage on a regular basis!  Hope you soon see a breakthrough. 

[Carmie]

Hi Songbird, 

 

Just popping in to see how your shoulder is.💚

[Carmie]

Hope you’re doing okay Songbird.💚

[Songbird]

Thanks for looking in on me, Carmie!  I'm doing okay (apart from my sore shoulder) and hope to be back here more very soon.

[Carmie]

On 4/24/2019 at 8:01 PM, Songbird said:

Thanks for looking in on me, Carmie!  I'm doing okay (apart from my sore shoulder) and hope to be back here more very soon.

 

Hi Songbird, 

 

Sorry your shoulder is still causing you problems. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? I’m glad you’re doing okay otherwise though.💚

[Carmie]

Hi Songbird. 

 

How are you doing? Is it cold in New Zealand now? It’s quite chilly here in Queensland this morning, but I’m comfy under my weighted blanket and I have the heater on. I looooove the glow of the heater, so comforting!🔥😍 The cold weather never lasts very long in Queensland. Before I blink it’s warm again!☀️☀️

 

How is your shoulder? Are there any improvements? I hope you are seeing some improvements.

 

Sending hugs your way🤗

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by Carmie
Removed white space

[Songbird]

Thanks for thinking of me, Carmie!  I am doing pretty well overall, and the intensity of shoulder pain has been reducing recently, thankfully.  I hope things are improving for you too.

[Longroadhome]

On 1/6/2016 at 8:33 AM, Songbird said:

Thanks, Ali.  I am still singing and trying to push my dreams along albeit very slowly.

 

I noticed this drop hitting more today, with restlessness, irritability, low mood, tearfulness, and then fatigue.  I tend to feel very lethargic after meals.  Also tonight I have aching joints, and my right eye is irritated again.  It's all pretty mild stuff and so far not too bad.

 

I injured my shoulder in November, saw my great physio, and it started improving, but then plateaued and has since worsened.  Apparently it is subdeltoid bursitis, and as it hasn't improved much, my physio is now recommending I get a cortisone injection.  I'm kind of worried about that, has anyone here had one of those and did it cause any problems? 

 

I'm getting a bit fed up with being in pain every day and night, and having a semi-crippled right arm.  I've tried a number of different pain-killers, but none of them work that well on this shoulder pain, at best they reduce the pain down to a dull ache so I can get on with things and sleep at night.  I would love it if the injection could alleviate the pain and allow the shoulder to heal.  I've heard that for some people, one shot fixed their problem, but others end up having repeated shots which caused other problems.  Anyone have any info and/or experience with cortisone shots?  Or shoulder bursitis?

Hello songbird 

I have been diagnosed with bursitis and would like to know how you got on with the steroid injections did you ever have them if not did anything else help?

mine is in  my hip and elbow .

thank you 

[Carmie]

On 6/2/2019 at 9:39 PM, Songbird said:

Thanks for thinking of me, Carmie!  I am doing pretty well overall, and the intensity of shoulder pain has been reducing recently, thankfully.  I hope things are improving for you too.

 

Glad to hear your shoulder has improved a little bit Songbird💚

[Songbird]

On 6/13/2019 at 2:05 AM, Longroadhome said:

Hello songbird 

I have been diagnosed with bursitis and would like to know how you got on with the steroid injections did you ever have them if not did anything else help?

mine is in  my hip and elbow .

thank you 

 

Sorry @Longroadhome, it seems I missed seeing your post.  My bursitis developed into a frozen shoulder which has pretty much recovered but the whole process took about three years.  Just as the right shoulder had recovered the left one started having the same problems (last Christmas), so I'm now on my second frozen shoulder.  I guess I should be thankful I didn't get them both at the same time - that would have been extremely disabling!

 

I found the steroid injection for the bursitis worked to alleviate the pain, but then my shoulder froze.  A steroid injection to the joint worked initially to improve movement in the shoulder for a couple of months, but once it wore off the shoulder continued to freeze and subsequent injections didn't work.  The injection for the bursitis went only into the bursa and didn't seem to cause me any problems.  The injection into the joint was done when my system was very destabilised from severe stress and it tipped my system over the edge into a chaotic state, and I ended up going back on a full dose of an SSRI (yet again).  In hindsight I wish I had not gone ahead with it.  So I recommend that if you want to get a steroid shot, get it only when your system is in a very stable state, as cortisone can wreak havoc in a sensitive nervous system.

 

I have found Bowen therapy very good for stopping pain from muscles seizing up around the joint.  It's been difficult to alleviate the joint capsule pain.  I can't take NSAIDs any more as I took them a lot with the first frozen shoulder and my stomach can no longer tolerate them.  For me, Panadeine has been the only effective painkiller for very severe joint pain - I don't take it all the time because the codeine can cause dependence.  This time around I found using DMSO (diluted and dabbed on the skin above the joint) sometimes helped to alleviate severe pain.  It's not an approved treatment but if you google you can find info about it (e.g. Dr Andrew Weil).  I found it very irritating to the skin (it's actually used as a paint stripper!) but it alleviated pain temporarily when nothing else was helping.  I've also been using various creams such as Deep Heat, Voltaren emulgel, Chill-ease (made from chillies), and Zen spray, which have all helped with pain at times.  I've also found heat (wheat bag) can help with mild to moderate pain, and an ice pack can sometimes help for more severe pain.  I've tended to rotate treatments around so I'm not using one thing all the time.  I've also been taking MSM powder, as some people have reported good results with it for frozen shoulder, but it's hard to tell what effect it is having.  Apart from the irritated skin, I haven't had problems with any of these, but as with anything, individual results can vary, so I recommend a cautious approach.  Thankfully the pain has been gradually easing as my shoulder moves out of the "freezing" stage into the "frozen" stage.

 

I believe withdrawing from ADs can cause or exacerbate all kinds of inflammatory conditions.  I hope you can find something to help your hip and elbow.

[Songbird]

On 6/15/2019 at 11:51 AM, Carmie said:

 

Glad to hear your shoulder has improved a little bit Songbird💚

 

Thanks, Carmie.  The pain is gradually ebbing away as it moves from the painful "freezing stage" into the less painful but very immobilised "frozen" stage.

[Carmie]

Hi Songbird, 

 

Thanks for dropping around to my thread. How is your shoulder doing? Is it still quite frozen or is it getting a little better? 💚

[Carmie]

How are you doing Songbird?💚

[Songbird]

I'm now down to 2.7mg and doing okay - still have patches of insomnia, fatigue, mild depression.

 

Second frozen shoulder is now in the "thawing" stage, so range of motion is very slowly and gradually improving.

[ChessieCat]

Hi there, great to hear from you.

 

Getting there, slowly.  That's the way.

 

I recently put in my drug sign that I don't need the drug but my brain does.

 

And have you listened to Alto's recent podcast?  Link in my sig.

[Songbird]

Hi Chessie!  Yes, I listened to the podcast!

[Songbird]

Now down to 2.5mg.  The previous couple of drops were pretty easy, but the latest has been a bit harder.  Patch of mild depression that has eased off over the past couple of weeks.  I didn't get too upset about it because I knew it was just from the dose drop.

 

Ongoing sleep problem with not being able to fall asleep for hours.  I usually manage to finally nod off around 2 a.m.

 

The extreme fatigue has eased off over the past few months and overall my energy level is better and I'm managing to get more done.

 

 

 

[Songbird]

Still on 2.5mg.  This drop has been more difficult than the previous two.  A fair bit of depression and a lot of insomnia.  I've had to give up my afternoon cup of tea as it seems to keep me awake at night.  Started to get very fatigued again until I got my next vitamin B12 injection.  Don't know what it is with me and B12 but it makes a big difference.  Feeling a wee bit fragile - just going to hold here for a while.  Shoulder is continuing to thaw and I'm managing to do a couple of dance classes.

[Carmie]

Hi Songbird, 

 

How are you doing? Are you still on 2.5mg or have you done another drop?🧡

[Nemet]

On 4/11/2018 at 11:36 AM, Songbird said:

Had another bit of a health scare - a few days ago found a big lump in one breast.  Had an ultrasound today and it turns out it is just a cyst and is harmless, so that's a relief.  I'm basically doing okay right now.  I'll wait another week or two and then if all is still okay go to the next drop.

Hi , I am 6 months free of Psych drugs, and in this 6 months I have gone through all different symptoms. Recently I am having a painful lump in my right breast. I saw your message. Are you feeling better? Do you think it was related to AD and WD? 

[Cheeky]

Songbird how are you , you haven’t posted in awhile ?